Immigrants’ Rights & Resource Guide

Last Updated: Dec. 19, 2024 9:30 pm

Note: This document is provided by the Department of Communications of the ACLU of Connecticut, and is intended
for educational, civic, and advocacy purposes. This is not provided by our legal team, nor does anything in this
document constitute legal advice. Please contact media@acluct.org with any questions.
Immigration Law in the US and Connecticut:

The United States federal government regulates immigration law nationwide. Congress controls immigration statutes,
but the executive branch is charged with enforcement. SCOTUS has consistently upheld that immigration law belongs
in federal jurisdiction via the Supremacy Clause.
States can have some laws governing how immigrants experience life in their state, but explicitly cannot
regulate immigration via state law.
For example, some states (like Connecticut) limit the information-sharing and interactions that local and state law
enforcement can have with immigration officials. Some states also provide certain benefits to immigrant residents.
Connecticut law is clear: if ICE wishes to detain or deport someone, it can expend its own resources and time doing
so. Local and state law enforcement are under no obligation to assist with this process. Local and state police do not
need to arrest, transport, or detain people for ICE, nor do local jails, courthouses, or prisons need to allow ICE to roam
their facilities.

Connecticut’s most commonly referenced immigration statute is called The Trust Act, which prohibits state law
enforcement from doing ICE’s job for them. Learn more about how the U.S. immigration system works.
What do we expect on January 20th?

Attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship and denaturalize American citizens.

Reinstitute Muslim ban: A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration. The ban is likely to
include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan,
Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. New countries could be added to this
list, particularly China and India. International students and scholars from outside of these “areas of concern” are
not likely to be affected by a travel ban or targeted visa suspension. People who are not citizens of these
countries but are in transit through them to the U.S. are unlikely to be affected.
Further restrictions on asylum.
Eliminate protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status
(TPS).
Undermine protections for unaccompanied minors and families. In Connecticut, residents can go goto
toprobate
probate
court to designate temporary guardians for children who will remain in Connecticut if their parent(s) or
court.
guardian(s) leaves the country, is deported, or taken to a mass detention site. Generally, temporary guardianship
is good for one year but can be extended through subsequent visits to the probate court. There may be forms and
actions that clerks at a probate court can help with that could be advantageous for someone’s immigration status.
Mass deportations: The president-elect has indicated mass deportations could begin soon after he takes office.
These are likely to focus initially on people with final orders of deportation. Mass deportations are also likely to
be challenged in the courts and to take longer than promised. Immigrants should make sure they have a safety
plan, and copies of all documents they or their family might need. The most targeted individuals will be those
living with a criminal record and those flagged for final deportation orders.
What do we expect on January 20th? [cont.]

University students and employees should take note: It is a good idea for international students, faculty, and
university staff from the above countries to be back in the U.S. in advance of the semester, which begins January
21, 2025. If this is not possible (e.g., for scheduled fieldwork), communicate with an advisor about your travel
plans and be prepared for delays.
Longer visa processing times: Applications for new employment-based visas or extensions (e.g., H-1B or O-1)
may take longer. Start the process well ahead of deadlines. Employers may file for an extension of H-1B status six
months in advance of the extension start date. Reduced staffing levels and increased background checks at U.S.
consulates abroad may also lengthen visa processing times.

What can a private citizen do to help neighbors who we don’t want to see deported?

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS and the rights of immigrant residents. Collective power, staying in community, and
standing up for one another is much more effective than barring the door if ICE comes to a person’s home.
We recommend the following:
Get to know law enforcement and municipal officials in your town. Talk with them intentionally about how policies
that pit people against one another are bad for public safety. Use the word “residents” instead of “citizens,” and
talk about how public safety should actually encompass all people, and not an idea of public safety that is rooted
in bias and does not reflect the actual views of the community.
Humanize yourself, your law enforcement officers, your elected officials, and your community members – but keep
in mind that systems-level change can be necessary even if everyone involved is a “good person” who is “just
doing their job.” Expansive views of public safety uphold the multicultural and pluralist values that the majority of
Americans actually believe in, especially when they see themselves as living in a community.
Contact your local elected officials and let them know you expect municipalities to create Immigration Raid
Task
n Forces that will create protocols, policies, and services in the event of an immigration enforcement raid.
The task force should include representatives from city agencies including education, health, and related welfare
services who will assist impacted community members to find loved ones, secure legal assistance, and provide
support for relatives, including U.S. citizen children left behind when a family member is arrested by immigration
officials.
These interagency bodies can provide support by doing community outreach, liaising with immigration and other
service providers, creating a hotline to report a raid, and assisting city staff—for example, at schools or hospitals
—in responding when they witness an immigration enforcement action or get an inquiry from immigration agents
about someone receiving their services. This coordination is essential to assist impacted community members get
rapid legal assistance, to counter misinformation, and to build and maintain community trust. The ACLU has
provided this guidance to state officials in Connecticut.
Do this with local, state, and national officials.
Senator Blumenthal: Phone 860.258.6940 | Email Contact Governor Lamont: Phone 860.566.4840 | Email
Senator Murphy: Phone 860.549.8463 | Email Contact Lt. t.Governor Bysiewicz: Phone 860.524.7384 | Email
Rep. Larson (CT-1): Phone 860.278.8888 | Email Contact Attorney General Tong: Phone 860.808.5318 | Email
Rep. Courtney (CT-2): Phone 860.886.0139 | Email Contact State Senators
Rep. DeLauro (CT-3): Phone 203.562.3718 | Email Contact State House Representatives
Rep. Himes (CT-4): Phone 860.453.0028 | Email Hartford Mayor’s Office: Phone 860.757.9311 | Email
Rep. Hayes (CT-5): Phone 860.223.8412 | Email New Haven Mayor’s Office: Phone 203.946.8200 | Email
Bridgeport Mayor’s Office: Phone 203.576.7201 | Email
Stamford Mayor’s Office: Phone 203.977.4150 | Email
What can a private citizen do to help neighbors who we don’t want to see deported? [cont.]

Contact your local elected officials and demand immigration defends funds, and an allocation of funding for
immigration legal consultations and legal representation to include affirmative relief, which does not require
people to have an immigration case in court, as well as in removal cases. In addition, allocate funding to cover
application fees for those who could not otherwise afford them. (See The Vera Institute’s Fairness to Freedom
Campaign)
Promote the creation of immigration legal clinics in your town or city.
Contact city and state officials and ask about a Data Privacy Act. Depending on how a city’s charter distributes
local government powers, either a mayoral executive order or city council legislation can be used to prohibit local
government agencies (including law enforcement) from purchasing any data, or receiving any previously
purchased data, for the purpose of engaging in any investigatory or criminal enforcement action. In cities that
adopt a Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, such information could only be obtained by local law enforcement
if (1) it secures a judicial warrant for the information or (2) if the information is provided voluntarily by someone
who did not purchase it (allowing others to purchase information and provide it to law enforcement would make it
easy to circumvent the rule).
Should I phyiscally put my body between ICE and my immigrant neighbor, such as barring the door to
obstruct their arrest?

The ACLU of Connecticut generally does not give advice about the consequences of intentionally breaking the law,
whether for civil disobedience or any other purpose. The best thing you can do is Know Your Rights and know the
rights of any undocumented person in your community. Bearing witness and being able to locate resources in case of
arrests is powerful.
Which Connecticut residents are the most at risk for being deported or arrested by ICE?
Immigrants – regardless of how long they have been in the United States – could experience harm, whether in the form
of fear mongering, discrimination, or a violation of their rights. People without secure immigration status, people who
were ordered deported in the past and people who have had contact with the criminal legal system are at particular
risk. More information is available at the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Most of the immigrants taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are at border
crossings, or are referred from state and local prisons and jails. State and local law enforcement in Connecticut are
prohibited by law from alerting ICE if they detain or release an immigrant eligible for deportation.
Immigrant Deportations: Trends and Impacts (Econofact, 2024 – Brookings Institution)

Will the ACLU help immigrants and families?

Yes. On the federal, state, and local level, the ACLU is working to protect your rights and litigate government overreach
and unconstitutional actions. We have policy experts, lawyers, advocates, and community organizers working every
day in the Capitol, statehouses, courthouses, and in your communities. We also work in coalitions with community
partners in direct legal services and other direct services, and serve as a resource clearinghouse for that information.

Please feel free to get in contact with us at info@acluct.org.

What is a citizenship or immigration “status”?
There are more than 60 types of citizenship and immigration status. Some of these include:
US Citizen (via birthright, naturalization, derivation, or acquisition) Conditional Permanent Resident
Permanent Resident (through family, business, lottery, or humanitarian bases) Refugees and Asylees
Non-Immigrants (students, tourists, diplomats) DACA/”Dreamers”
Undocumented Person Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
I’m an immigrant. What can I do to prepare?
Seek legal consultation:
American Immigration Lawyers Association: 1-800-954-0254
National Immigration Legal Services Directory for Connecticut: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/
legaldirectory/search?state=CT
Create a safety plan:
Identify your emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers.
Provide your child’s school or day care with an emergency contact to pick up your child.
Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your
child.
Tell your loved ones that if you are detained by ICE, they can try to use ICE’s online detainee locator to find
you: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search.
Learn about guardianship, so that your children could be cared for by the person of your choosing rather than
being sent into the foster system if you are detained. Probate court can help with this.
Consider putting a power-of-attorney document in place so that a person of your choosing may retain a
lawyer and/or file suit on your behalf if you are detained by ICE and unable to communicate with the outside
world.
Collect documents in a safe place:
Keep your identity information and financial information in a safe location.
Gather documents showing the length of time you have been in the United States; the most recent two years
are most important. This can include U.S. income tax returns, utility bills, leases, school records, medical
records, bank records, or other documents.
Make sure your emergency contact can access all of these documents.

Know your rights and know what to do when encountering ICE:

See the Know Your Rights section on the next page. Know Your Rights resources are on the following page.
Avoid immigration fraud:
Only seek legal advice from an attorney or an accredited representative at a Department of Justice-recognized
nonprofit organization.
Lawyers must have a license from a U.S. state to practice law. Ask to see their law license. Law licenses from
other countries do not authorize the practice of law in the United States.
Accredited representatives must be accredited and work for a nonprofit agency recognized by the
Department of Justice. Ask to see their accreditation documents.
Never sign an application with false information.
Never sign a blank form.
Ask for copies of everything you sign.
If the advice sounds too good to be true, get a second opinion before filing an immigration application.
Read NIJC’s full guidance on how to avoid immigration fraud.
Be alert for digital scams:
Be skeptical of social media posts promising new or quick immigration relief.
The U.S. government (including Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and State Department) will never contact you via WhatsApp or social
media.
With limited exceptions, such as people who are released from detention and told they must check in with
ICE via telephone, the U.S. government generally does not contact individuals by phone.
If you receive an unexpected message or phone call from someone who claims they are an immigration officer
or other government official, do not respond or share personal information. Do not wire or transfer money to
pay a “processing fee” or for any other reason.
If in doubt, consult an attorney or accredited representative before taking any action.
Avoid sharing unverified information on social media.
 Know Your Rights
What happens if I get stopped What can I do if ICE comes to my What can I do if ICE comes to my
on the street by ICE? workplace? home?
Do not run. Remain calm. You do not have to open the door.
Do not run. If they are not You can ask the officials if they
If officials ask for your name, looking for you, running will
you must tell them. You do have a warrant. You can ask the
make you a target. officials to pass the warrant
not have to answer any other If they ask for your name, you
questions. under the door.
must tell them, but don’t have You can confirm that the warrant
You can ask if you are free to to answer other questions.
go. If the answer is yes, you has been signed by a judge or
You can ask if you are free to magistrate. Only a warrant signed
may walk away calmly. go. If the answer is yes, you
It is best not to lie or carry by a judge or magistrate allows
may walk away calmly. immigration officials to enter
false documents with you.
your home to search your home
Note: immigration does not need a or make an arrest.
warrant or permission to enter the Remember that a warrant of
What are my rights if I am public spaces of a business such as
arrested? removal/deportation (Form I-205)
the dining room in a restaurant. does not allow officers to enter a
If they ask for your name, you They do need a warrant or home without consent.
must tell them. You don’t have permission to enter areas that are An arrest warrant will name the
to answer other questions. not open to the public, such as the person they are looking for. If
You have the right to remain kitchen in a restaurant. they only have an arrest warrant,
silent. If you wish to exercise you do not have to agree to let
that right, say so out loud and You can carry this language below them search your home.
ask for a lawyer right away. on a card with you and hand it to If the warrant is not signed by a
You can ask to make a phone the police or immigration. Or slip it judge or magistrate, you do not
call and speak with your under your door, if immigration have to open the door or allow
lawyer. Memorize the phone comes to your house: entry to your home.
number of your lawyer or a I am exercising my If they enter your home anyway,
family member or a trusted constitutional rights. I do not you have the right to ask for the
friend who is in the United wish to speak with you. I will names and badge numbers of the
States legally. not open the door unless you officer and say you did not agree
You do not have to give have a warrant signed by a to the search.
information or answer any judge. Even if the warrant is valid and
questions about your Estoy ejerciendo mis derechos immigration officials are allowed
immigration status. constitucionales. No deseo to enter your home or make an
You do not have to sign any hablar contigo. No voy a abrir la arrest, you do not need to answer
documents. puerta a menos que tenga una their questions. You have the
orden judicial firmada por un right to remain silent, even if the
Remember: it is best not to lie or juez. officer has a warrant.
carry false documents with you. Note: printable cards in English and If you are arrested, you can ask
Spanish can be found at the end of to speak with an attorney.
this resource guide.
Note: if immigration officials take
items from your home, keep a record
of what they took and ask for a
receipt for the items.
 Know Your Rights Resources
Immigrant Legal Resource Center ACLU Resources
SHOW THIS CARD through the door or window Law Enforcement Asks About Immigration Status:
if ICE is at your home: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-
https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/docum rights/immigrants-rights#law-enforcement-asks-
ents/red_card-self_srv-english.pdf about-my-immigration-status
Printable in 15 languages: Stopped by Police or ICE:
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards https://www.aclu.org/know-your-
rights/immigrants-rights#ive-been-stopped-by-
Immigration Preparedness Toolkit: police-or-ice
https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resour
ces/imm_preparedness_kit_april2020_1.pdf Police or ICE are at My Home:
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-
Family Preparedness Plan:
https://www.ilrc.org/resources/step-step- rights/immigrants-rights#police-or-ice-are-at-
my-home
family-preparedness-plan
Note: printable cut-outs of the Red Card can be I Need A Lawyer: https://www.aclu.org/know-
your-rights/immigrants-rights#i-need-a-lawyer
found at the end of this resource guide.
I’ve Been Detained Near the Border at Border
Patrol: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-
National Immigrant Justice Center rights/immigrants-rights#ive-been-detained-
near-the-border-by-border-patrol
ICE in Your Community:
https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your- I Was Stopped by Police, ICE, or Border Patrol
rights/ice-encounter While in Transit: https://www.aclu.org/know-
your-rights/immigrants-rights#i-was-stopped-
by-police-ice-or-border-patrol-while-in-transit
Mobilization for Justice Detained While My Immigration Case is
Underway: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-
Interacting with ICE in Public Spaces: rights/immigrants-rights#i-am-detained-while-
https://mobilizationforjustice.org/wp- my-immigration-case-is-underway
content/uploads/Interacting-with-ICE-in-
Public-Spaces.pdf I’ve Been Arrested & Need to Challenge A
Deportation Order: https://www.aclu.org/know-
Interacting with ICE at Home: your-rights/immigrants-rights#ive-been-
https://mobilizationforjustice.org/wp- arrested-and-need-to-challenge-a-deportation-
content/uploads/Interacting-with-ICE-at- order
home.pdf
Encountering Questions from Law Enforcement:
Interacting with ICE in the Courts: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/what-
https://mobilizationforjustice.org/wp- do-when-encountering-law-enforcement-
content/uploads/Interacting-with-ICE-in- questioning
Courts.pdf
 Legal Help for Immigrants
2-1-1 of Connecticut has more resources for immigrants here.
This page will be updated as more resources become available.

Greater Hartford Legal Aid

https://www.ghla.org/
(860) 541-5000
Connecticut Legal Services
https://ctlegal.org/
(860) 225-8678
New Haven Legal Assistance
https://nhlegal.org/
(203) 946-4811
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
https://cirict.org/
Bridgeport: (203) 336-0414
Stamford: (203) 965-7190
Hartford: (860) 692-3085
Apostle Immigrant Services
https://www.apostleimmigrantservices.org/
(203) 752-9068
IRIS - Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services
https://irisct.org/
(203) 562-2095
Building One Community
https://building1community.org/
(203) 674-8585
The Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization of Yale Law School
https://law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-and-experiential-learning/jerome-n-frank-legal-
services-organization-lso
(203) 432-4800
University of Connecticut School of Law, Asylum and Human Rights Clinic
https://www.law.uconn.edu/academics/clinics-experiential-learning/asylum-human-rights-clinic
(860) 570-5165
Immigration Advocates Network
http://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory
American Immigration Lawyers Association
https://www.aila.org/
1 (800) 954-0254
Red Card Cut-Outs (ENGLISH)
To print at home, use heavy weight paper, or
card stock. Cut out the cards along the dotted
lines. If you’re unable to print on both sides, you
can simply fold on the center line to make a 2-
sided card.

If you use a professional printer, we suggest you

print 2-sided cards with white text on red card
stock with rounded corners.
Red Card Cut-Outs (SPANISH)
Para imprimir en casa, utilice papel grueso o
cartulina. Recorta las tarjetas por las líneas de
puntos. Si no puede imprimir en ambas caras,
simplemente puede doblar por la línea central
para hacer una tarjeta de dos caras.

Si utiliza una impresora profesional, le sugerimos

que imprima tarjetas de 2 caras con texto blanco
en cartulina roja con esquinas redondeadas.